Operations Management Bachelor’s Degree Online

Is an Operations Management Degree for You?

Students who graduate from operations management programs are equipped with the skills to run complex organizations like distribution centers, retail chains, and computer-integrated firms. During the program, they build upon their knowledge of different business-related disciplines, including financial accounting and business marketing, using case studies to hone their skills. They learn to control inventory, schedule and allocate projects, and ensure that efficiency is optimal. Operations management students become familiar with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and project management software that will assist them in their daily responsibilities. Because of the scope of their duties, they must possess solid organization, communication, and teamwork skills. Ultimately, an organization's ability to function properly is due to the operations manager's competency.

Advice for Earning Your Operations Management Degree Online

Earning your operations management degree online is every bit as challenging as earning it at a brick-and-mortar school. You must commit yourself to learning the material at a steady pace amid the other responsibilities you encounter in your life. Because you will be working hard for the degree and expect to see results, it's important that you ensure your prospective school is accredited by a respected accrediting agency. Accreditation is a measure that ensures colleges are performing to the satisfactory educational standards established by the accrediting agencies. You can check a prospective school's status by visiting the U.S. Department of Education's Database of Postsecondary Accredited Institutions. If your school and program are accredited, employers will be more likely to respect your degree.

Required Courses

Operations management students must be proficient and well-rounded in the business disciplines. They therefore enroll in courses like financial accounting, managerial accounting, microeconomics, macro economics, marketing, business ethics, and business law. Their upper-level schedules may consist of operations management, principles of management and organization, business strategy and policy, leadership skills for managers, personnel and human resources management, comparative international management, and compensation administration. To properly oversee an organization, operations managers must possess solid math skills. Students are therefore required to take calculus and statistics. Additionally, some students are required to take writing courses, as communication is essential in management occupations.

Common Career Paths

In the past, operations management jobs were associated with manufacturing and plant management, but that has changed as more graduates have entered the service sector and taken jobs in corporate settings. The increasing use of technology to handle complex business operations has resulted in higher demand for the occupation, so a degree in operations management provides graduates with a multitude of options. These options include (but are not limited to):

• Operations Manager

  Operations managers are responsible for the supervision of staff, project management, and building working relationships with clients. On a daily basis, operations managers resolve issues in the workplace, work with other employees to promote and improve customer service, ensure that other staff members are working effectively and efficiently, and ensure that projects and deadlines are met employees. Operations managers are needed in a wide area of industries to monitor and oversee the general well-being of the organization, and sometimes their duties can overlap with those of CEOs. While specific hiring and educational requirements will vary between employers, most employers prefer to hire operations managers that have at least a bachelor's degree in business administration, liberal arts, management, or a closely related field.

  Because operations managers are needed in many industries, job growth will be dependent on the industry outlook at the time. Annual salaries of operations managers are likely to vary widely between employers, experience, and location, but the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual salary of an operations manager was $91,570 in 2008.

• Operations Research Analyst

  Operations research analysts use analytical techniques to help managers make better decisions about their companies. They also help solve the problems and issues that may arise within the company. They formulate and apply mathematical modeling methods and statistics to analyze information essential to the success of a business or organization. These analysts are often involved with the strategizing, planning, and forecasting of company expansion. Operations research analysts also allocate resources, measure performance of staff, design systems, manage supply chains, analyze databases, and coordinate transportation and distribution.

  Employers prefer workers that have completed advanced math courses and are familiar with the subject area because these analysts are commonly employed with financial service firms, computer system design firms, insurance firms, management firms, telecommunications companies, and technical consulting firms. They may also work for the Federal Government or with the Department of Defense, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also reports that employment of operations research analysts is expected to grow much faster than the average occupation. The median annual salary of operations research analysts was $69,000 in 2008.

• Operations Consultant

  Operations consultants work to assist various types of businesses and organizations in evaluating and accessing their internal policies, strategies, and procedures. Operations consultants begin their work by evaluating and examining the workflow of a business or organization. The consultant examines the division of labor in various departments within the organization and studies how they relate to one another and whether they fulfill customers' demands. With this information, operations consultants can then change or develop procedures and policies, which enhances the operation of the business and ensures that it is working as efficiently as possible. Operations consultants must have good written and oral communication skills.

  The educational requirements of most operations consultants consist of at least bachelor's degree in business management, operations management, business administration, or a closely related discipline. According to Payscale.com, entry-level operations consultants earn between $55,955 and $72,440 annually, depending on the employer and the location in which they work.